Inspirations Calendar | August Project

For many people, August means lazy afternoons in the back garden enjoying the gorgeous sunshine. What could be more perfect than listening to the bees buzzing, while sipping a cool drink or partaking in a fresh afternoon tea whilst you enjoy the height of the summer?

How about laying out the outdoor table or tea tray with a stunning drawn thread mat which you’ve worked yourself?

The August project from the Inspirations calendar is ideal for such pleasurable pastimes and has been one of our most popular counted thread pieces from the magazine. Barbara Kershaw’s ‘Saving Grace’ appeared in Inspirations issue #99 and has proudly adorned many a table setting ever since.

Worked on fine white linen, and using a gorgeous array of drawn thread techniques, this cloth is guaranteed to draw comments. However, the ease of creating this heirloom piece is belied by the resulting intricacy of the wide, lacy border. This is especially the case with the striking highlight – a band of beautiful knotted work looking for all the world like delicate spider’s webs.

So, if you’re lucky enough to associate August with sunshine, Saving Grace is a must. We’ll be thinking of you back at Inspirations HQ as we cup our hands around a warm hot chocolate and dream of being able to lay this beautiful mat on a sunny garden table again soon.

Saving Grace is available to purchase as a digital pattern and in print, with copies of Inspirations issue #99 still available.